External armor for pneumatic tires.



J. L. LA DRIERE. EXTERNAL ARMOR FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 1910.

Patented May 24, 1910.

W] T NESSES UNITED srrnrrns PATENT orrion.

JOSEFH L. LA DRIERE, OF A'LBUQUERQUE, TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 24, 1910.

Application filed January 21, 1910. Serial No. 539,359.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH L. LA Dianna, citizen of the United States, residing at Albuquerque, in the county of Bernalillo and Territory of New Mexico, have invented new and useful Improvements in External' Armors for Pneumatic Tires, of which the following is a specification.

My invention pertains to external armor for pneumatic tires; and it has for its object to provide an armor in the form of an endless chain, made up of a plurality of connectedlinks, and adapted to be placed laterally on a tire when the same is deflated, and also adapted when the tire is inflated to retain itself in position thereon.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings constituting part hereof:

Figure l is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, illustrating my novel armor as properly positioned onthe pneumatic tire of a wheel. Fig. '2 is an enlargedplan view showing a portion of the armor. Fig. 3 is a view showing the inner side thereof. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the links comprised in the endless chain or rin of armor. Similar letters esignate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings, referring to which- A is a portion of a wheel.

B is a ortion of a conventional pneumatic tire carried by the wheel, and C is a portion of a chain or armor ring constructed in accordance with my invention.

WVhen placed on the tire BQhe chain or ring C is endless and is similar in construction throughout. The chain or rin C is made up of a plurality of links D which are preferably, though not necessarily, of metal suitable to the purpose, and inasmuch as the said links are identical in construction a standing of all. The

detailed description of the one shown in Fig. 4 will suffice to impart a definite undersaid link I), Fig. 4, comprises a body a that is concavo-convex in cross-section and is slightly curved in the direction of its length, a longitudinal central tongue I) that is integral with the body a and extends forwardly therefrom, and a T- head 0 carried by the said tongue. In the more particular y 2 rear portion of the .body a is formed an opening (Z, of general T-shape, as best shown at the left of Fig 2, and in the outer side of the rear portion of the body is also formed a shallow recess ewhich communicates with the rear. reduced portion of the opening (I. At its forward end the body a is provided with a rib f, arranged exteriorly of the body and extending throughout the width thereof, and at its rear end said body is provided with exterior rabbets g which are disposed at opposite-sides of the bottom wall h of the before-mentioned recess e. The tongue 7) and the T-head c thereon are provided with a flange z'which extends forward of the T-head 0 throughout the length thereof and. also extends in rear of the T-head, as indicated by j. Interiorly the body a is provided with a comparatively large opening I; in communication with the opening (Z and having top walls Z and m. It will also be observed by reference to Fig. 3 that the body a is provided, in advance oi the opening k, with a short protuberance p. Inadvance of the protuberance p, and as shown at the right of Fig. 3, the body a is provided with interior rabbets 1 which are arranged at opposite sides ofthe inner side of the tongue I) so as to atford a recess 8 between them. On its inner side the head a is provided with a protuberance tsimilar in form scribed. Y

'In assembling the links D in order to form the ring or endless chain of armor, the head 0 at one end of each link is passed through the large portion of the opening d of the next forward link from the outside inward in a diagonal position, relative to said large portion, and then the opposite end of the first-named linkis swung inward until the side of the second named link. With this done, itwill be seen that the flanges 2' and j on the head r: of the first named link will lie against the walls Z and m of the second named link, and the exterior rabbets' g of the second named link will be opposed to the interior rabbets 1' of the first named link, while the inner side of first named link will rest in the recess 6 of the second named'link. By virtue of this it will be observed that the links will be securely, though detachably, connected, and this in such manner that the ribs 7 will afto the protuberance 72 before deinner side of said link is flush with the inner the tongue bet the 80 anyone of the links I) that it is desired to be readily taken out, of the ring ground and increasing the tractioncapacity of the, armor while thejtongues b will afi'ord' longitudinal exterior project-ions, calculated ound, to prevent lateral allytothe position at the opposite side of x the tire, with reference to. the wheel rim. The tire is-then inflated to; the extent 'desired when, as will be readily understood, the links of the-armor ring Will, by reason of their transverse curvature, securely retain the ring on the tire and against casual displacement. with the armor ring positioned as statedon the tire, the protuberances p and} of each link will sink into the tire after the manner shown in Fig. l, and by so doing will preelude creeping of the armor ring around the .t1re. v v

It will further be understood from the foregoin that my novel armor, rin will protect t e; tire against wear and wifi prevent uncture thereof, and that'when necessity emands, the armor ring may be removed; after the tire is deflated, and then remove, may and as readilyreplac'ed by a new link.

While I have shown and described one form of my invention it is to be-understood that I am not limited to the details or the form or relative arrangement of parts disclosed, but that extensive modifications may be made therein, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patout, is:

1. An external armor for pneumatic tires,

comprising a plurality ofl-inks detachably {mined in an endless chain or ring; each link ing of concavo-convex form in cross-section, and havingat one end a tongue, a'f-' fording a longitudinal exterior projection, and a flanged T-head on said tongue, and also having an exterior transverse vrib at the inner end of the tongue, and a recess at the inner side of the tongue, and interior rabbets at the inner side of said transverse rib and at opposite sides of said recess, @hd

. further having a T-shaped opening in its outer side near its opposite en an exterior It will also be understood that recess extending between said opening and end, exterior rabbets at opposite sides of i said recess, and a comparatively large openingin its inner side and communication set forth.

2. An external armor for pneuma'tictires, comprising a with said T-shaped opening, for the purpose plurality of links detachably joined in an endless chain or ring; each link being of concavo-convex form in cross-section, and havingat one end a tongue, afi'ording a longitudinal exterior projection, and a flanged T-head on said tongue,.and also having an exterior transverse rib at the inner end of the tongue, and a recess at the inner side of thetongue, and interior rabbets at the inner side of said transverse rib and 'at opposite sides of saidrecess, and further having a- T-shaped opening in ts outer side near its opposite end, arr-exterior recess extending between said openin and end, ex-

terior rabbets at opposite sides of said re 1 cess, a comparatively large opening in its inner side and in communication with said T-shaped opening, an interior rotuberance on the inner side of the T-hea and an in- 'terior protuberance cm the link, between the tongue and the inner opening thereof.

3. An external armor for pneumatic tires, comprising a plurality of links detachably joined in an endless having atongue at one end forming a longis tudinal projection, and a flanged T-head on said tongue, and a transverse llb at the inner end of the tongue, and also having a T shaped opening in its outerside near its op pos te end, a comparatively large opening'in its inner side and in communication with c ain or ring and each said T-shaped opening, and the said end exteriorly rabbeted.

4. An external armor forneumatlc tlres,

comprising a plurality of 1 vdetachablyjoined inan endless chain or ring and each having a ton 'ue at one end" and afiangedT- head on sai tongue and also having a T- shaped openin in its outer side, near its op- I posite'end, an a comparatively large openmg in its inner side and in communicatlon with said T-shaped opening. r

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set myhand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH L. L 'DRrE E. I

Witnesses:

GEORGE R. CRAIG, FRANK H. Moore. 

